The Importance of Industrial Chillers in Cannabis Cultivation

With strict laws barring cannabis use and cultivation becoming less prevalent, and many states embracing cannabis for its medicinal, recreational, and financial benefits, legal operations for the growing and selling of hemp and marijuana products are growing.

As these operations get underway, many companies are having to learn the particulars of running a large-scale cultivation and distribution process, which is where industrial chillers come in and play a major role. Let’s take a look at how they are used by the industry and why they’re so vital.

Chillers and Cannabis Cultivation Methodologies

When it comes to cannabis cultivation, whether you are growing plants for future sale or isolating and extracting the cannabinoids THC, CBN, and CBD for diverse purposes, you want an effective system in place.

If you’re growing your plants totally indoors or within a greenhouse, having full control over all of your environmental conditions is essential, and depending on your goals you will need either a central chiller or an extraction chiller, or possibly both.

Central chillers are used by a wide variety of businesses and organizations that require large refrigeration capabilities. For cannabis growers, humidity is one of the most crucial factors to take into account, because without enough moisture plants will dry out, and with too much moisture the risk of mold disease greatly increases.

Extraction chillers for cannabis are often used when companies are isolating cannabinoids from the other chemicals and fibers found within cannabis. These chillers are utilized during extraction to keep a consistent temperature and remove excess heat when liquids are cycled through the plant’s fibers at subzero temperatures. This, in turn, leads to improved speed and efficiency during extraction.

Environmental Factors

Something else to consider when it comes to chillers is the environment your facility will be housed within. For very hot climates like those seen in the American South, Southwest, and other similar regions, chillers are necessary to lower your facility’s air temperature below the ambient temperature found outside.

Meanwhile, some places in the American West and Northwest, such as Colorado, can experience significant shifts in temperature suddenly in the same 24-hour period, which makes having a regulated temperature system within your facility that can keep up with fluctuations so essential.

Hydroponics

Another popular option for those cultivating cannabis is going the route of hydroponics. These hydroponic systems give growers total temperature and humidity control within their greenhouse or interior space.

Let’s look at some key features:

• Hydroponic systems utilize water to transfer heat in both heating and cooling systems, often with multiple looped passageways to allow for the movement of both chilled water and heated water through pipes or tubes. Chilled water is kept at approximately 65 °F, while ambient air temperature is kept at approximately 75 °F.
  
  
• These systems therefore necessitate one chiller at a minimum to keep water cooled in its respective loop, while a heater will regulate the hot water of the heated loop.
  
  
• These cooling systems may also be shared between rooms in a facility even if those rooms have their own unique ventilation systems. Any room utilizing these systems must remain air-tight, however, because any leaks could result in the growth of mold and loss of facility energy.
  
  
• Other benefits of hydroponic systems include faster growing times, their adaptability for a variety of spaces, and precise nutrient control, the latter of which can result in larger, healthier, and more potent yields.

As you can see, there are a wide variety of benefits to incorporating a chiller into a cannabis cultivating operation. We wish you luck as you assess the needs of your facility and find the right equipment to meet your growing and output needs.